Restaurant Reviews

Arch 208, 18 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD

Aji Akokomi, the man behind Fitzrovia's Akoko, is behind Akara in Borough Yards—a West African restaurant where the menu centres around crispy akara fritters with diverse fillings. The drinks list also showcases West African-inspired cocktails (as well as an impressive scotch bonnet cordial) and it's all set within repurposed railway arches, with an impressive mezzanine private dining space too. Definitely order the akaras, but make sure to take in some of the excellent larger plates too.

12 Upper St Martins Lane, London WC2H 9FB

This is the original Dishoom, the self-styled Bombay cafe that propelled them to success (albeit now twice the size it was when it originally opened). Like all Dishoom restaurants, you'll find their excellent small plates, inspired by Indian street food, with certain specials like the bacon naans and the house black daal not to be missed. Also note that this Dishoom has one of their longest queues in the evening.

12-14 Basil Street, London SW3 1AJ

While it has a name that comes with perhaps unfortunate connotations in the UK, this high-end Japanese restaurant, which comes via the Middle East, has managed to find quite a following here. It mixes Japanese dining with a clubby feel, but there's also notable skill showing through in a menu that certainly has the odd nod to Nobu. They're also blessed with a rooftop area overlooking Knightsbridge.

The Berkeley, Wilton Pl, London SW1X 7RL

Cedric Grolet is often described as the best pastry chef in the world and this is his London outpost (the first outside France). Here he's in charge of the main pattisserie at The Berkeley hotel where you can both have his pastries in the cafe or sit at the pattiserie counter for a cake and pastry tasting experience like no other.